Elevated warning sign for automobiles, etc.



T- E. MEAD March 9, 1954 ELEVATED WARNING SIGN FOR AUTOMOBILES, ETC

Filed Dec. 8, 1952 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELEVATED WARNING SIGN FOR AUTOMOBILES, ETC.

This invention relates to an elevated warning sign for automobiles, etc.

A great many accidents have occurred when automobiles pull to the side of the road at night in order that the driver may obtain tools, luggage, and other things from the rear or luggage compartment of the automobile. Even though the driver may place a lantern or electric warning light, etc. on the ground about the car, the light is often obscured as he or other passengers walk about the car. Further, the driver usually anticipates a very short stop and does not bother to place any illumination to warn oncoming cars; or simply forgets to use a warning light. It is realized by everyone that a serious problem is presented in this situation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple structure which automatically, through the raising of the rear compartment door, displays a warning sign which is held in elevated position and reflects the lamp rays of the oncoming car to signal the warning. A further object is to utilize the vertically-raised cover of the rear or trunk compartment so that the sign is above the heads of those working on the car, as in changing tires, etc., the raising of the cover automatically placing the sign in an elevated, unobstructed position. Yet another object is to provide means connected with the rear compartment cover for exposing the sign automatically when the cover is raised, and returning the sign to an unobstructive position adjacent the cover when the cover is lowered to closed position. Other specific objects and advantages will app-ear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown, in an illustrative embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rear compartment of an automobile having a horizontally hinged cover carrying the sign structure embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a broken side view in elevation, the cover being shown in section; Fig. 3, a broken side view in elevation showing the cover in lowered position; Fig. 4, a perspective view of the sign and supporting apparatu therefor, the parts being shown in spaced-apart relation; and Fig. 5, an enlarged side view in elevation of the sign and supporting apparatus assembled.

In the illustration given, It designates the rear portion of an automobile providing a 'rear tool or luggage compartment II. In the upper portion of the luggage compartment, a hinge support I2 of well-known construction is mounted upon a horizontal hinge and is welded at its forward end to a rear compartment cover I3. It will be understood that any type of car having a rear compartment and equipped with any kind of horizontally hinged or pivoted cover may be used. In the normal operation of the cover, it will be swung to an elevated position, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. In the specific cover shown, there is an inner linin member I I having portions cut out so that access is readily had to the inner metal liner structure I I for connecting parts thereto.

I secure to the liner I4 and near the rearward end thereof, which is elevated when the cover is opened, a warning sign I5. In the form illustrated, the sign It is a panel having thereon a reflective surface IBa spelling out the Word Danger, or some similar warning. The sign I5 may be simply suspended from the outermost or rearmost part of the cover, a chain or other suspension member being used, it being only necessary that a short tie member of this sort be used to allow the sign to drop to a visible position below the rear end of the cover when the same is raised, as shown in Fig. 2.

In the specific illustration given, I provide a bracket support It having a hinge portion II. The bracket I6 is provided with perforations I8 and with a clamping plate I9 which has tapped openings 20 and has downwardly turned corners 29a. The plate It is provided with an eye member 2| fixed to the plate portion IIa extending downwardly for receiving the flexible element 22. The clamping plate I9 is extended about an edge portion of the inner metal liner III of the cover, as illustrated best in Fig. 2, and screws 23 are used for securing the plate I9 and bracket III to the liner strip I4, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The plate I5, as illustrated best in Fig. i, is secured by bolts and nuts to a rectangular supporting plate 25, the plate being secured by a pivot pin 28 to the horizontal hinges 24 of bracket IS. A spring 2'! is employed at the hinge for normally urging the support 25 to a rearward position against the cover when the cover is lowered, as illustrated in Fig. 3. In other words, when the cover is in raised position, the tension upon flexible member 22 is increased and against the force of the spring the sign I5 is swung downwardly to a generally vertical position, as illustrated in Fig. 2, where it is displayed to the oncoming cars.

The tension element 22 may be connected to the stationary portion of the cover hinge inwardly of the cover support I2 or to any fixed portion of the body, so that when the cover is lowered and the distance between the top of the cover l3 and the point of attachment of the element 22 is decreased, element 22 becomes slack and the spring 28 moves the sign [5 to an unobstructing position against the rear portion of the cover, as illustrated best in Fig. 3.

The warning sign i 5 may be of any suitable type or construction. Highly reflective bead signs are now employed for picking up the illumination from oncoming cars and causing the warning words or sign to stand out very sharply. I prefer to employ such bead structures, and the plastic and colored materials used therewith, because of their effectiveness in giving the warning when illuminated by the lamp rays from oncoming cars. It will be understood, however, that any suitable warning signal may be employed.

Operation "In the operation of the structure, when the driver brings his car to the side or" the road, and then opens the rear compartment or deck. cover to obtain things from the rear compartment such tools, maps, luggage, etc., the raising of the cover causes the tension element 22 to be tightened and draws the sign iii to the vertical position shown, the sign being thus elevated and rendered visible to oncoming cars even though individuals may be working therebelow in changing the tires, etc. The raising of the sign i i to the elevated and vertical position is ac omplished automatically without any thought b given to it by the driver. In the elevated position, the sign does not obstruct operations such as the moval of luggage or securing of tools, After the repair work or other work is over and the driver desires to proceed, the cover l3 may be lowered to the closed position shown in Fig. 3, thus rendering flexible element 22 slack and allowing the spring to return the sign [5 to the unobstructing position shown in Fig. 3 with the sign lying generally parallel to the rear portion of the cover In this position, it is out of the way and does not interfere with the luggage or other objects stored in the compartment.

While I have illustrated a preferred form in which the sign is automatically moved to the display position when the cover is raised and to a retracted position against the cover when the cover is lowered, the warning sign may be suspended by other means upon the cover so that the simple raising of the cover causes the sign to swing in a vertical position while at the same time, when the cover is lowered, the sign will remain in a generally unobstructing position in the upper portion or" the cover or may rest upon luggage or other objects stored within the compartment. Thus the sign is automatically made visible when the cover israised. while presenting no interference to the storage of luggage and articles in the compartment.

While, in the foregoing specification, I have shown a specific structure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating an embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In con'ibination with the horizontally hinged cover of a rear automobile compartment, a reflector warning sign suspended from the rear portion of the cover, whereby, upon the raising of the cover, said sign assumes a generally vertical and elevated position adapted to be illuminated by the lamp rays from oncoming automobiles, said sign being swingable to a lower hidden position when said cover is closed.

In combination with the cover of an automobile rear compartment mounted for swinging upwardly to an open position, a light-reflective warning sign, means for supporting said sign upon the rear portion or" said cover, whereby upon the elevation of said cover, said sign will occupy a generally vertical and elevated position exposed to the illumination from oncoming cars, and means for moving said sign to a position general- 1y parallel with the adjacent portion of said cover when said cover is moved to closed position.

3. In combination with a vertically-movable cover for the rear compartment of an automobile, a warning sign provided with light-reflective material, means for hingedly mounting said sign upon the underside of. said cover, means for urging said sign to a generally vertical and elevated position when said cover is raised, and means for normally urging said sign to an unexposed position adjacent the underside of said cover when said cover is lowered.

4. In combination with a hinged cover at the rear of an automobile mounted for swinging upwardly, a warning reflector sign hingedly mounted upon said cover, a spring normally urging said sign rearwardly adjacent said cover, and a tension element connected to said sign and to a fixed part of said car for drawing said sign forwardly against the force of to display it in a generally vertical and elevated plane, said spring retracting said sign when said cover is lowe ed.

5. In combination with a hinged cover at the rear of an automobile mounted for swinging upwardly, a warning reflector si n hingedly mounted upon said cover, a tension element connected to said sign and to a fixed part of said car for drawing said sign to a generally vertical posi tion when the cover is raised, and a spring urging said sign to a concealed position ad'acent the cover when said cover is lowered.

6. In combination with a horizontally pivoted cover for the rear luggage compartment of an automobile, a tie element secured to a fixed part of the automobile and extending rearwardly to a rear portion of the cover, a bracket mounted upon the rear inner portion of the cover, a sign mounted upon said bracket and hinged for swinging movement into a position adjacent said bracket, a tension element, a guide secured to said bracket and receiving said tension element, said tension element being secured to said sign for drawing said sign to a generally vertical position when said. cover is raised with said sign, and spring means urging said sign to :1. retracted and concealed position adjacent the cover when said cover. is lowered.

THEODORE E. MEAD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,384,205 Maris July 12, 1921 2,310,416 Golamb Feb. 9, 1943 2,517,119 Le Duo Aug. 1, i950 

